Alton Hopper Jr.

Alton Hopper, Jr. MATTHEWS - Alton Marion Hopper, Jr. entered the church triumphant on January 26, 2015, after years of declining health due to Alzheimer's disease. Alton is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sue Brevard Morris Hopper, whom he met in second grade; his niece, E. Kyle Tyner and her husband, Mike Tucker, of Statesville; his nephew, David H. Tyner and his wife, Karen M. Tyner, of Spartanburg, S.C., numerous cousins and a multitude of friends. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Alton M. and Elva Sneed Hopper of Shelby; and his sister, Elinor Hopper Tyner Drake, of Charlotte. Alton was born in Shelby, North Carolina, on May 19, 1931. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1949 and attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for two years before entering the Air Force, where he served at Temple Hoff air base in Berlin, Germany. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Alton enrolled at the University of South Carolina in Columbia where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. After several years with Proctor and Gamble, Alton became a manufacturer's representative and sold automotive and truck equipment for the remainder of his successful career. Alton was genuinely interested in everything and everybody, and quickly established relationships with people from all walks of life. His circle of friends, many of whom he has known and cherished for decades, is wide and deep. He was full of life and always had a funny story or joke to tell. His natural curiosity led him to explore many interests, including flying. He obtained his private pilot's license and enjoyed flying small planes to interesting places, and generously taking family members on plane rides. Alton delighted in traveling and he and Sue went all over the world together where he soaked up the local culture and relished experiences such as riding a camel in Egypt, salmon fishing in Alaska, and attending the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. Alton was kind, generous, and positive. He was always smiling and he enjoyed life to the fullest measure. A man of integrity and faith, he embodied biblical morals and values and extended himself and his resources generously to others. A celebration of his life will be held at 2pm Saturday, January 31st, in the auditorium at Plantation Estates, 701 Plantation Estates Drive, Matthews, N.C. The family will greet friends after the service, which will be a celebration of a life well lived. The family gratefully acknowledges the staff at Plantation Estates Special Care unit for their unfailing care of and love for Alton over the last five years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte, N.C.,1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, or the charity of one's choice. Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Hopper. Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com.